March 5, 2024

Conference News

Alabama-West Florida 2024 Annual Conference Information

The Alabama-West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church will hold its 2024 Annual Conference session Sunday, June 16-Tuesday, June 18 at First United Methodist Church, Montgomery. The conference will not meet on Wednesday, June 19. This year’s theme is, “Revive Us Again” from Isaiah 43:18-19. This year's missional offering will go towards new church starts and United Methodist places of worship. An online giving portal will be available soon. We invite you to give generously to this connectional effort. To see the working agenda, click here. Note that opening worship will begin at 8:30am on Monday, June 17. The clergy and laity sessions will be held in person on Sunday, June 16. Registration on Sunday, June 16 will be located in two separate places: clergy will register in the fellowship hall area and laity will register in the narthex of the sanctuary. This will enable you to be near your respective session on Sunday evening. If you are not arriving until Monday, all registration will be in the lobby of the fellowship hall. More here.

A Word from Bishop Graves: Appointment Timeline

(Bishop Graves) - Currently the cabinet, pastors, staff-parish committees, and churches are working on the upcoming appointment year: July 2024 to June 2025. I have found that cabinet transparency is vital in building trust. To inform you of our process, but most importantly to ask for your prayers, I want to share the following:
The cabinet, consisting of the four district superintendents, Rev. Ashley Davis, and myself will be working to make many appointments between now and annual conference, scheduled for June 16-18. I have said this before but there are many factors that go into this process which include retirements; churches open by the death of a pastor; pastors leaving our annual conference; local church needs and concerns; pastors’ needs and concerns; and family considerations, to name a few. Some of our local churches have also reduced clergy salaries due to fewer incoming resources. The combination of these circumstances leads to many emotions. Our United Methodist appointment process is like no other mainline denomination. More here.

Around the Conference

Magnolia UMC - A New Church for Orange Beach and Gulf Shores

(New Ministry Strategies) - When it became clear that the United Methodist Churches in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, AL, would disaffiliate, Rev. Dr. Debora Bishop formed a group that would ensure a United Methodist presence remained in the area. On January 29th, 2023, Magnolia United Methodist Church had their first worship service at the Bear Point Civic Association Building. Rev. Dr. Bishop preached and announced that she would be the pastor of the church. Todd Dowdy, who was the minister of music from Orange Beach, and his wife, Marcia, arranged music for the service. Magnolia’s lay leader, Esther Jackson, had a craft for the children to do, and Katie Aiken did the children’s sermon. “It was absolutely beautiful, and you could feel the Holy Spirit in that place,” Jackson said. More here.

Alabama Rural Ministry Seeks Summer Students and Mission Teams

(ARM) - For youth directors, mission coordinators, and pastors seeking missional opportunities for students and church members: Alabama Rural Ministry (ARM) hosts mission teams in Tuskegee who serve through critical home repair and children's ministry. ARM partners with you to host your team, handle all the details and create a space where your students can engage in compassionate service by making homes warm, safe and dry. Furthermore, there are opportunities for students to also serve with elementary-age children providing enriching and biblical activities. We are currently booking for summer 2024 and beyond. Also, to host these student groups, ARM puts together a team of Christian college-aged students serving as mission camp counselors. We are putting together a team of 7-9 students for our team serving in Tuskegee. There are four positions. These are paid positions and these students live in intentional Christian Community as they serve. More here.

Quad W Seeks Summer Missional Interns

QuadW is again looking for highly qualified candidates for their summer missional internship program. The QuadW Missional Internship places teams of Christian young adults in under-resourced communities where they partner with churches and faith-based nonprofits to serve their neighbors. There are five sites in the U.S. and one on the border in Mexico. Most of the interns' time is spent in meaningful, relational service. Interns will also practice spiritual disciplines - prayer, worship, reading and journaling through Scripture, and accountability/encouragement groups. Additionally, interns will work through a curriculum designed to help them understand their faith and the Church in terms of God's mission. The focus is transformation for the young adult. QuadW believes they are most transformed when faithfully participating in God's transforming work in the world around us. The difference interns make in the lives of others is enormous. They also help their partnering churches and faith-based nonprofits deepen their impact, building new relationships with their neighbors. For some partners, this has led to new life and significant growth. More here.

Resources

Wilson Authors Spring Cokesbury Adult Bible Study

(Cokesbury) - Cultivate a deeper relationship with God through Cokesbury's Adult Bible Studies. This resource, endorsed by the Curriculum Resources Committee of The United Methodist Church, offers a year-round, weekly Bible study plan for Sunday school. "Encounters in Prayer and Love" was written by Rev. Robin Wilson and runs from March-May of 2024. It is a weekly study that also provides daily Bible readings. Rev. Wilson currently serves the Alabama-West Florida Conference as the Director of Healthy Clergy and Churches and is an ordained elder in the conference. Click here for more.

United Women in Faith Offering Scholarships for Young Women

(United Women in Faith) - United Women in Faith is accepting applications for the Theressa Hoover Community Service and Global Citizenship Award. The grant is awarded to a lay woman (between the ages of 21–35) who wishes to travel in order to explore and study in a country or region other than the applicant’s own. Priority will be given to projects that explore one of United Women in Faith’s social justice priorities: Climate Justice: Advance just energy for all through advocacy or concrete projects that promote clean, just, renewable energy, energy democracy, and a just and equitable energy transition. Racial Justice: Ending mass incarceration, stopping the criminalization of communities of color, and/or interrupting the school-to-prison pipeline. In addition, applicants should demonstrate concern for, and a connection to, their community, as well as a recognition of their global responsibilities. Applications are due by Tuesday, July 9, 2024. More here.

Apply for GBHEM Scholarships Before March 13 Deadline

(GBHEM) - Supporting your educational goals is a top priority for the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM). If you have not yet applied for a GBHEM scholarship we encourage you to do so before the deadline March 13, 2024. In 2023, we awarded 2,100 United Methodist students with scholarships. This year we want to include YOU in that number. With this financial aid, GBHEM is opening pathways for students of all backgrounds to earn their degrees and serve as the next generation of leaders for the church and the world. For more information about GBHEM Scholarships and eligibility requirements click here.

8 Strategies for Reaching and Developing Gen Z

(Lewis Center) - How can congregations build meaningful connections with young adults? Brandi Nicole Williams, Director for the African American Church Evangelism Institute, offers eight practical strategies for bridging the generational gap and fostering relationships with Gen Z to build a more relevant church community. More here.

UMCOR Sunday is March 10

The UMCOR Sunday Special church-wide offering underwrites UMCOR’s administrative costs, allowing 100% of all funds given to humanitarian response and recovery efforts to be used directly for communities in need. View promotional resources here.